Kathleen and Cathy about to head into passport control in Havana after we arrived.
After all our months of planning and anticipation, here we finally are in Havana!
Our first meeting with Ebony O'Reilly, our incomparable tour guide.
The first sighting of the old american cars. We are through customs and out the other side of the airport terminal. At last, here we are!
Another look at that 50 or 51 Chevy convertible. The little green car is a Lada, a communist built verison of an early 1970's Fiat 124 sedan.
Kathleen, Patty, and Elaine in the mob scene outside the airport terminal.
There were a fair number of these old jeeps running around.
A 53 Chevy following an early 50's Chevy or Pontiac in the distance as we head in from the airport. We were riding in a fairly new Hyundai mini-van that had a diesel engine and a manual transmission.
Looks like about a 53 or 54 Plymouth there on the left.
In the hotel lobby, waiting while Ebony sorts out the room reservations. That seemed to be hard, but she was up to the task.
Another view of the hotel Sevilla lobby while check-in was proceeding.
Just off the lobby at the hotel was a very sweet courtyard. There were often live music groups performing out there.
At dinner the first night in Havana. This was a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel. The food was very good, but the service was VERY slow. I think we were there 3 hours. Kathleen, Sandy, Andy, Peter, Ashley. Will is just out of the picture on my right.
The brains behind this wonderful trip. Cathy Jones got the idea and we are privileged to be her friends. Here we are in the restaurant in the hotel where we ate breakfast.
Cathy deserves another picture!
The Jones sisters with one of the statues in the hotel lobby.
Kathleen, ready for our first full day.
Kathleen and her friend again.
Listening to our tour guide for the day (Carol) fill us in, while Ebony works on more plans.
Carol giving us an overview of the country.
Typical Old Havana Architecture.
This was a part of the Museum of the Revolution, which we did not get a chance to visit.
There are many modes of tranportation in Havana. In this picture you can see horse-drawn carriages, cars, motorcycles, cars, buses, and people walking.
This is the bar where Ernest Hemingway liked to drink.
Walking down a street in Old Havana. The balconies tell the age of the building. The really old buildings (dating back to the 1600's) have wood balconies, more "modern" buildings have stone or other materials.
Our guide for this part of the tour, Carol (sp?) in the red shirt. He was great! If I am not mistaken, the building behind us is the hotel where Hemingway lived before buying his place outside of town.
Kathleen in Old Havana.
The inner courtyard of an old mansion. Quite lovely!
Another view of the courtyard.
I can't for the life of me remember what this was or who the statue was of, but it was pretty neat, eh?
Coming up on a square and a significant church.
Patty, capturing a shot at the outdoor seating for a very nice restaurant. I wanted to stop and have a cup of coffee there!
Another view of the square with Patty centered int the shot.
Helen, Keith, and Carol (with Cathy obscured) in the square.
Ashley, getting some pictures.
I should have captured the names of these squares, but was just soaking in the sights. It was wonderful!
Peter and Will taking in the sights.
Helen, Keith, Cathy, and Patty listening intently to Carol.
Another square. Wonderful places to hang out.
No, I don't know what this building was, but it was neat.
I thought this was an animated statue, but it was a man most carefully made up.
The "statue" moved very slowly.
The cats are behind the crowd in this shot.
Loved these cats!
The rest of the cats.
Had to get a picture with my favorite cat.
I cannot remember the significance of this statue. Roosters were not an uncommon subject for statues.
A very old building, with renovation of the capitol behind.
